How to Clean Ballpoint Ink From Leather
Leather is prized by many people. They love the durability, the look and feel, and even the scent of leather furniture, bags, clothing and boots. Leather needs a little more care and attention than other materials. When it is soiled or stained, stain removal requires a different cleaning approach. The blight of an ink stain is the bane of leather, and some products can cause more damage. Depending on the type of leather, and the speed with which the stain is discovered, ink often can be removed by one of several known methods. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Soft, clean white cloths
- Cotton swabs
- Rubbing alcohol
- Neutrogena liquid face cleaner
- Distilled water
- WD-40 lubricant
- Ink-remover stick
Instructions
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Blot the ink with a soft, absorbent white cloth as soon as the ink mark occurs, if possible. Press -- don't rub -- the cloth against the ink stain. Absorb as much ink as possible.
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Test any stain-removal products on inconspicuous part of the leather first. The back of a sofa, or under a cushion, are good areas for a test patch.
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Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Squeeze out the excess alcohol, away from the leather item. The swab should be damp, but not dripping. Wipe the ink stain with the swab. Blot with a soft ,dry white cloth. You may need to repeat the process several times.
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Mix equal parts of Neutrogena liquid face cleaner with distilled water. Dampen a soft, white cloth with the mixture and blot the stain. Blot the cleaning mixture from the leather with another white cloth that has been dampened with distilled water. Blot dry.
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Dampen a cotton swab with a tiny amount of WD-40. Wipe the ink with the swab. Blot with a soft, clean cloth. Repeat if necessary.
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Rub an ink-remover stick onto the stain several times. The stick resembles a tube of lip balm and is formulated for removing ink stains from leather. Wipe the area with a clean white cloth.
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Tips & Warnings
Ashley Furniture recommends using only distilled water when working on a stain. Tap water contains minerals that may leave a stain of its own.
When using the ink-remover stick, you may rub the product into the leather with your finger to help it soak into the leather.
For added cleaning and protection, the ink-remover stick manufacturer recommends cleaning the stained area with a leather cleaner after removing the ink. Follow the cleaner with a leather protective cream.
For ink stains that have been present for some time, a professional leather cleaning service may be required. A dry cleaner sometimes has the means to remove ink from bags, jackets and boots.
Old cloth diapers are useful for cleaning and conditioning leather.
The ink-removal stick may cause a dark spot on aniline dyed leather. According to the manufacturer, this dark area will dissipate within a few days.
Do not use the ink-remover stick on suede or nubuck or synthetic leathers.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit leather image by Alex White from Fotolia.com
